A police officer who raped a woman he met on a dating website has been sentenced to eight years in prison and placed on the sex offenders’ register for life. PC Stuart Mines, 49, was convicted of the brutal attack, which took place at his home in Devon in October 2022, while he was off-duty.
The sentencing at Exeter Crown Court followed Mines’ conviction by a jury. He was subsequently dismissed from Devon and Cornwall Police, where he had served for more than 20 years.
Victim’s Trauma
In a powerful victim impact statement, the woman described the devastating impact of the attack, saying she had suffered severe mental trauma and had been unable to work.
“Emotionally, I’ve been a total wreck,” she said. “I’ve spent endless nights unable to sleep, feeling worthless and violated by the actions of this horrid person. Mines has ripped my confidence away.”
She went on to explain that everyday encounters with police officers, cars, or sirens now trigger panic and nausea, serving as a constant reminder of the assault.
The victim also expressed her profound sense of betrayal, stating:
“I trusted him because he was a police officer, but he broke the law, he raped, lied, and treated me with such disdain, being abusive and humiliating me whilst he laughed and thought it was funny, laughing at my distress.”
Court’s Judgment
Sentencing Mines, Judge Stephen Climie condemned his actions, saying:
“You have torn apart your victim’s life. I have considered very carefully the extent to which the offence of rape was the primary trigger for many of the issues detailed in her statement. The impact of this event can be described as severe, some might even say extreme.”
Judge Climie emphasized that the crime was aggravated by the fact that Mines was a serving police officer at the time of the assault. He criticized Mines for betraying the trust inherent in his role and acknowledged the significant harm caused to the victim.
Defense and Prison Challenges
Kelly Scrivener, representing Mines, acknowledged that his time in prison has been challenging due to his former career in law enforcement. Media coverage of his conviction led to fellow inmates identifying him as a former officer, causing additional difficulties within the prison environment.
Accountability and Policing Standards
Judge Climie asserted that Mines’ actions should not reflect on the wider police force, stating:
“As with any profession, there may be a bad apple or two whose behavior unfairly tarnishes others within that role. Your conviction should not, in my judgment, impact the integrity of the police generally, least of all Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, who continue to operate with integrity, respect, empathy, courage, and fairness.”
In addition to his prison sentence, Mines has been placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and issued with an indefinite restraining order prohibiting any contact with his victim.
